Spectroscopic Analyses Highlight Plant Biostimulant Effects of Baker’s Yeast Vinasse and Selenium on Cabbage through Foliar Fertilization

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to find relevant analytic fingerprints for plants’ structural characterization using spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric analyses (TGAs) as alternative methods, particularized on cabbage treated with selenium–baker’s yeast vinasse formulation (Se-VF) included in a foliar fertilizer formula. The hypothesis investigated is that Se-VF will induce significant structural changes compared with the control, analytically confirming the biofortification of selenium-enriched cabbage as a nutritive vegetable, and particularly the plant biostimulant effects of the applied Se-VF formulation on cabbage grown in the field. The TGA evidenced a structural transformation of the molecular building blocks in the treated cabbage leaves. The ash residues increased after treatment, suggesting increased mineral accumulation in leaves. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) evidenced a pectin–Iα-cellulose structure of cabbage that correlated with each other in terms of leaf crystallinity. FTIR analysis suggested the accumulation of unesterified pectin and possibly (seleno) glucosinolates and an increased network of hydrogen bonds. The treatment with Se-VF formulation induced a significant increase in the soluble fibers of the inner leaves, accompanied by a decrease in the insoluble fibers. The ratio of soluble/insoluble fibers correlated with the crystallinity determined by XRD and with the FTIR data. The employed analytic techniques can find practical applications as fast methods in studies of the effects of new agrotechnical practices, while in our particular case study, they revealed effects specific to plant biostimulants of the Se-VF formulation treatment: enhanced mineral utilization and improved quality traits.

Analytic Fingerprints of Se-Stimulated Cabbage Biofortification

“…Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA) and fiber content were used to compare the inner and outer leaves of the Se-biostimulant-treated cabbage cultivars, working with previously detailed methods [2].…”

“…Plant physiology studies developed exponentially in the last century, together with the global technologyaiming toward molecular and bionanotechnology usage for a better understanding of the green world [1]. This study aims to highlight and discuss particular aspects of the biostimulant effects of the selenium-betaine nanoformulation (Se-BNF) on cabbage growthunder drought conditions [2], concentrating on particular physical-chemical fingerprints of the plant cell wall response to foliar fertilization.…”

The Clothes Matter—Exploiting Agronomical Functions of Trichogenic Selenium Nanoparticles Sharing Activities with Biological Systems Wherein (Were) Formed

“…Biofortification treatments on cultivated plants produced effects similar to biostimulants [29,30]. Several effects similar to plant biostimulants were confirmed in the last decade: (i) enhancement of nutrients uptake and nutrients use efficiency [31], especially of nitrogen [32] and essential micronutrients [33,34]; (ii) increased tolerance to abiotics [35][36][37], including potentially toxic elements [38][39][40] and biotic stress [41][42][43]; (iii) and improved crop quality traits [44][45][46][47][48][49].…”